The National Security Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force: reflections on half a century of service Nov 20, 2025

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How is the Australian Defence Force preparing for the challenges of a changing world?

Does the appointment of a naval officer as the Chief of the Defence Force signal a shift in focus to the maritime domain?

What does a career in the Australian Defence Force mean in the 21st century?

In this episode, Admiral David Johnston joins Rory Medcalf to discuss the insights he has gained through his career in the Royal Australian Navy, and how he sees the future of Australia’s defence.

Admiral David Johnston AC RAN was appointed Chief of the Defence Force on 10 July 2024. He has extensive experience across a range of leadership, maritime and joint operations, training and capability management appointments in Australia and overseas.

Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of NSC. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.

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NSC academic programs – find out more
CDF Speaking at the ASPI 2025 Defence Conference: National preparedness and national support for defence
CDF Podcast on Australia’s defence strategy in the indo-pacific

We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.

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Seeing the unseen: why geospatial intelligence is important Nov 06, 2025

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What are the origins of the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO), and how has the organisation developed within the National Intelligence Community?

How does AGO contribute to the broader remit of Australian statecraft, the work done by other NIC agencies, and the Five Eyes partnership?

What makes innovation in the geospatial intelligence space key to building resilience?

In this episode Kathryn McMullan joins Sally Bulkeley to discuss the importance of geospatial intelligence, how it contributes to statecraft, and how the AGO works with other partners to enhance national security and resilience.

Kathryn McMullan is the Director of AGO.

Sally Bulkeley is Deputy Head of the ANU National Security College.

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Show Notes:

AGO | National Intelligence Community

Five Eyes wide shut: now is the wrong time to pause in shaping Australia’s intelligence agencies

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Democratic resilience in the digital age Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

What is democratic resilience and why is it a national security issue?

Why is it important to preserve public trust and participation in the electoral process and what are some of the challenges to this?

Apart from voting, what are some other ways that Australians can engage in the democratic process?

What challenges do big tech companies, mis- and disinformation, and AI present in this digital age?

In this episode Tom Rogers joins Tim Wilford to discuss the importance of democratic resilience in Australia, the role of civic engagement, and the challenges posed by misinformation in the digital age.

Tom Rogers AO is a former Australian Electoral Commissioner and a Distinguished Advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC). He is a member of the Advisory Committee for NSC’s Community Consultation initiative.

Tim Wilford is Director of NSC’s Community Consultation Initiative.

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Show Notes

NSC academic programs – find out more
NSC’s Community Consultations initiative
Judith Brett's book: From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage

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Sustaining deterrence and building defence industrial resilience Oct 09, 2025

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Do the US and other Western allies still maintain an edge over China in defence industry and innovation?

How are partnerships between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea reshaping the global balance of power?

How do Australia and other US partners contribute to strengthening deterrence and industrial resilience?

What are the key supply chain vulnerabilities we might face in a protracted conflict, and how can Australia and its partners mitigate them?

In this episode, Seth Jones joins David Andrews to discuss the importance of alliances, defence industry coordination, and readiness to build deterrence across multiple theatres.

Dr Seth G Jones is Senior Vice President and Director of the International Security Program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC.

David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy and Engagement at the ANU National Security College.

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Show notes

NSC academic programs – find out more
Seth’s book – The American Edge: The Military Tech Nexus and the Sources of Great Power Dominance
THAAD – The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System

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What Finland can teach Australia about national security Sep 25, 2025

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How does Finland view strategic linkages between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions?

What is the Finnish model of ‘Comprehensive Security’, and how does it work in practice?

How does Finland communicate openly with the public about national security risks without fuelling alarm or polarisation?

What lessons can Australia learn from Finland's societal-led approach to preparedness?

In this episode, Pasi Rajala joins Rory Medcalf to discuss the evolving geopolitical landscape, the importance of international cooperation among democracies, and Finland's unique approach to security and resilience.

Pasi Rajala istheState Secretary to Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence.

Professor Rory Medcalf AM FAIIA is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.

TRANSCRIPT 

Show notes 

NSC academic programs – find out more 
North star: why Australia should look to Finland on resilience and preparedness

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Evolving lessons in counterterrorism from 9/11 to 2025 Sep 11, 2025

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How has the terrorism threat landscape evolved since 9/11, and what makes today’s challenges more complex?

How is the counterterrorism response evolving in response to today’s rapidly shifting global landscape?

How has Trump’s ‘America-First’ policy impacted the US’ relationship with the Five Eyes partners in the counterterrorism space?

What can we do at a societal and community level to counter violent extremism?

In this episode, Nick Rasmussen joins Sharryn Parker to discuss the evolving landscape of terrorism and counterterrorism, focusing on the complexities introduced by technology, the shifting priorities in national security, and the importance of community resilience.

Nick Rasmussen is Senior Advisor for National Security and Leadership Programs at the McCain Institute. He is also a Distinguished Advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC).

Sharryn Parker is Senior Policy Advisor at NSC, on secondment from the Department of Defence.

TRANSCRIPT

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NSC academic programs – find out more

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Indonesia’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific and beyond Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

How has Indonesia’s foreign policy evolved under President Prabowo?

Is Indonesia slowly moving from being ‘non-aligned’ to being ‘multi-aligned’?

How have recent US foreign and domestic policies affected its relationship with Indonesia?

How can Australia and Indonesia strengthen their relationship and enhance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific?

In this episode, Natalie Sambhi and Yohanes Sulaiman join David Andrews to explore Indonesia's evolving role as a strategic actor in the Indo-Pacific and its relationship with major players in the region.

Dr Natalie Sambhi is Founder and Executive Director, Verve Research. She is also a Senior Policy Fellow with the Asia Society Australia.

Dr Yohanes Sulaiman is an Associate Professor of International Relations at Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani in Indonesia. He is also the Executive Editor of the Journal of Global Strategic Studies.

David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at the ANU National Security College (NSC).

TRANSCRIPT

Show notes

NSC academic programs – find out more

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The evolution of strategic deterrence Aug 21, 2025

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How has strategic deterrence evolved from the Cold War to contemporary times?

What is ‘strategic substitution,’ and how has China used it to craft its unique approach to deterrence?

How does the ‘Golden Dome’ proposed by the US fit into today’s debates on missile defence and counter-space capabilities?

Does Australia need to do more to close the capability gap in relation to China’s recent modernisation?

In this episode, Fiona Cunningham and Aaron Bateman join David Andrews to explore the evolution of strategic deterrence from the Cold War to contemporary times, with a focus on nuclear weapons, space capabilities and alternative approaches.

Dr Aaron Bateman is Assistant Professor of History and International Affairs at George Washington University.

Dr Fiona Cunningham is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also an Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College (NSC).

David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at NSC.

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Show notes

· NSC academic programs – find out more

· Under the Nuclear Shadow: China’s Information-Age Weapons in International Security by Fiona Cunningham

· Weapons in Space: Technology, Politics, and the Rise and Fall of the Strategic Defense Initiative by Aaron Bateman

· Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Statement on Golden Dome for America

· THAAD – The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System

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Partners with limits: inside the China–Russia relationship Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

How aligned are China and Russia's strategic interests?

How is this relationship playing out in relation to competing spheres of influence in Central Asia?

What are the key points of friction in the China-Russia partnership?

In this episode, Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva and Graham Meehan join Sally Bulkeley to delve into the complex dynamics of the China-Russia relationship, exploring the alignment and divergence of their strategic interests.

Dr Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva is a Lecturer at the ANU National Security College (NSC).

Graham Meehan is a former diplomat, including having served overseas as the Australian Ambassador to Russia and Deputy Head of Mission in Beijing.

Sally Bulkeley is Deputy Head of College at NSC, on secondment from the Department of Defence.

TRANSCRIPT

Show notes

NSC academic programs – find out more

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PM Albanese's China visit and the future of the Aus-China relationship Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

How has the Australia-China relationship changed since the Prime Minister’s last visit to China in 2023?

From China's perspective, how does its relationship with Australia fit into its current worldview? And how has US policy under Trump impacted that relationship?

What does the future hold for the Australia-China relationship, given China’s increasingly assertive foreign and strategic policies?

In this episode, Rowan Callick and Will Glasgow join Susan Dietz to unpack PM Anthony Albanese’s recent visit to China and the complexities of navigating the Australia–China relationship.

Rowan Callick OBE is an Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College (NSC). He is an experienced journalist with extensive China and other Indo-Pacific expertise.

Will Glasgow is The Australian’s North Asia Correspondent, now based in Beijing. He has lived and reported from Beijing and Taipei since 2020.

Susan Dietz is Senior Executive Advisor, China at NSC.

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Show notes